Wire forming machine



April 13, 1937. H. LEAL WIRE FORMING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ril 13, 1937.

H. LEAL WIRE FORMING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMEMKW ATTORNEY April' l3, 1937.

H. LEAL 2,077,243

WIRE FORMING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I IHHIIIIIIHIHIHIH II II 5 INVENTOR o 5Z7 B Lea L ATTORNEYS April 13, 1937. H LEAL 2,077,243

WIRE FORMING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 t?" v I .1; INVENTOR 1 Hugh Leol I ATTORN EY-5 Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,017,243 wmr: FORMING MACHINE Hugh Lea], Windsor, Ontario, Canada, assignor to L. Al Young Spring and Wire Corporation,

Detroit, Mich.

Application June 11, 1936, Serial No. 84,655

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in'wire forming machines.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved coil forming machine which may be adjusted for forming coils such as coiled. springs havingcertain of the coils elongated or provided with offsets.

Second, to provide an improved coiling machine in which these elongated coils may be positioned as desired relative to the other coils of the spring-that is, the elongated or modified shape may be in the end coils or intermediate coils as desired.

Third, to provide a coiling machine having these capabilities which is comparatively simple in its parts and is of large capacity and the parts are strong and durable.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary-perspective view of a coiling machine embodying the features of my I invention, one of the coils for which the machine is adapted being illustrated in partially formed position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in plan and partially in horizontal section illustrating details of the coiler member controlor actuating means.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view partially in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing details of the auxiliary cam means and the followers asso ciated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a disassembled view of the parts of. the auxiliary cam assembly.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the relation of the coiler member to the wire as it is projected against the same.

Fig. 7 is an enlargedfragmentary view partially in section on line 1-1 of Fig. 3, the auxiliary forming mechanism being locked in inoperative position. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a-coil,1the product'of the machine with the auxiliary forming means in inoperative position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view with the auxiliary control means in operative position, the main control cam being in the same position as in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a coil formed with the auxiliary arranged to provide an ofiset in an end coil, an offset or an elongation of an intermediate coil being indicated by dotted lines.

With the parts as illustrated in Fig. 1, the machine is adjusted for the forming of a coiled spring I having an elongated or flattened or oflset end coil 2. The machine comprises a suitable pedestal 3 having a head 4 thereon of suitable design for the mounting of the various moving parts.

The coil is formed by suitable coacting feed rolls 5 and 6 through the guide 1 against the forming or coiler member 8 mounted on the rockshaft 9 for oscillating or swinging movement. The wire is fed into impinging engagement to or against the coiler member and the position of this coiler member determines the shape and size of the coil. The stock of wire lllis drawn through straightening rolls II and in practice the feed I rollers act intermittently, being moved to and from feeding position so that the feeding operation is discontinued during the cutting operation. As the means for effecting this are well known in the art as is also the association with a suitable pitch" block l2 with the forming member, the details of the cut-off and pitch block are'therefore not illustrated as they form no part of this invention which relates primarily to the control of the'forming member.

The main control cam I3 is driven through a suitable train of gears from the main driving shaft H having tight and loose pulleys l6 and I! thereon, the driving belt being indicated at l8. The cam l3 actuates the forming lever I 9 pivoted at 20 and provided with a follower 2| coacting with the cam. This cam through the forming lever l9 actuates the actuating lever 22 provided 1 with the adjustable arm 23 carrying the adjustable follower '24 which rideson the top of the lever IS. The lever 22 is connected to an arm 25 on the ro'ckshaft 9 at 26. By'adjusting the arm 23 of the lever 22-and adjusting the follower 24,- the diameter of the coils may be varied and also" their relative diameter. The parts described will produce a spnngof the type shown inFlg; 8'11 which isa common type of spring.

Iprovide means for modifying the shape of- Y theselected coils-.fbrexample, the end coil as shown in Figs. .1 and 10, or an intermediate coil as indicated. at 2'I, Fig- 10, by dotted lines. This is accomplished in the embodiment illustrated by providing an actuating link 28 which is pivotally connected to the lever 22 at 29 below the point of attachment of the lever 22 to the arm 25 of the rockshaft 9. This link 28 is provided at its outer end with a yoke-like or angled arm 30 carrying the cam followers 3| and 32, these being longitudinally slotted to receivethe transverse pin 33, the followers being adjustably supported by the screws 34. Coiled springs and 36 arranged upon the pin 33 eliminate slack or lost motion in the followers. A clamping plate 31 is provided for this follower assembly. Lock nuts 38 are provided for the adjusting screws 34. The outer end of the link is supported by the rocker arm 39 pivoted on the frame at 40 and to the outer end of the link at 4|. A coiled spring 42 urges the link inwardly and urges the followers against the link actuating means which for convenience I designate as auxiliary cams.

The cam assembly consists of a cam made up of coacting members 43 and 44 mounted on the stub shaft 45, the member 43 being fixed to the shaft and the member 44 being adjustably mounted thereon so that these members may be adjusted relative to each other for varying the position of the cam members and the lifts 46 and 41 thereof.

At the side of these cam members is a disk 48 carrying the cam member 49 having radial cam projections 56 of varying widths so that this member which is secured by the screw 5| may be selectively positioned to present a selected cam projection which projects beyond the periphery of the disk.

The cam members 43 and 44 are provided with a series of holes 52 and 53 while the disk is provided with a series of holes 54 and 55 adapted to be selectively brought into register to receive the locking pins 56. Numbers or other indicia may be associated with the set of holes 54 to facilitate the adjustment. The holes are arranged in staggered relation in order to provide for fine adjustment without cutting away too much stock. The follower 3| coacts with the cam members 43 and 44 while the follower 32 coacts with the cam member 49.

The cam shaft 45 is provided with a gear 51 of the train of driving gears, it being important that the shaft 45 be driven in synchronism with the main control cam.

Means are provided for locking the actuating link 28 in inoperative position. This in the embodiment illustrated consists of the cam-shaped catch 58 pivoted at 59 and provided with a lever 60 which may be swung against the tension of its spring 6| connected to a bracket 62 at one end and to the catch 58 at the other end, the spring acting to hold the catch either in its engaged or disengaged position. In its engaged position, it bears against a fixed part 63 which in this instance is the supporting bracket for the shaft 45.

With the link locked in inoperative position as shown in Fig. '7, it does not aifectthe movement of the forming member which is then actuated solely through the control cam l3 and forming lever and actuating lever connections described. However, with the latch 58 in disengaged position, the cam followers may coact with the auxiliary cam assembly described so that the actuating link is actuated thereby and this results in imparting to the forming member an additional or accelerated movement with the result that it is shifted for a limited controlled period of time to a position resulting in the forming of the offsets or extensions of the coil which it is desired to offset or elongate.

The auxiliary cam assembly is capable of a wide range of adjustment affecting not only the size and shape of the offset but timing this amplifying actuation of the forming member so that the offsets or extensions may be in the end coils and the intermediate coils as is indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 10. With the parts arranged as illustrated and describedthat is, for the forming of springs having oifsets in their end coils, the wire stock is fed against the coiler member by means of the pressure feed rollers, the coiler member being oscillated to determine the size and shape of the coils. This oscillation is effected through the control cam l3 acting upon the forming lever [9. This forming lever is operatively connected to the rockshaft 9 of the coiler member through the arm 23 provided with an adjustable follower 24 coacting with the lever l9, the arm 23 being adjustably mounted on the actuating lever 22. These adjustments provide for variation in the diameter of the coils. When the coil shape modifying mechanism is locked in inoperative position, the former is controlled from the control cam and the connections to the coiler. When this mechanism is in operative position, it acts at a predetermined point to modify the shape of a coil for example, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 10 or by dotted lines in the same figure, and this results from the further control of the forming member at a predetermined point in the forming operation. The mechanism has a wide range of adjustment so that the shape of any desired coil may be modi fied and the extent of modification greatly varied by the set-up of the mechanism.

I have illustrated and described my improvements as embodied in a type of coiling machine quite extensively used. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to which this invention relates to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a coiling machine, the combination with a coiler member provided with a rockshaft having an arm thereon and feed means operatively associated with said coiler member, of a coiler member control means comprising a control cam, a forming lever coacting with said cam, an actuating lever connected to said arm on said rockshaft and having an adjustable arm provided with an adjustable follower coacting with said forming member, an actuating link connected to the said actuating lever below its pivot and having projections of varying width adjustably mounted on said cam disk so that it may be adjusted to present a selected cam projection in operative position projecting beyond the periphery of the disk, and cam followers adjustably mounted on said arm on saidactuating link, one coacting with said first named link actuating cam and the other with said cam disk and the cam carried thereby, and means for locking said actuating link with its cam followers in inoperative relation to said link actuating cams.

2. In a coiling machine, the combinationwith a coiler member provided with a rockshaft having an arm thereon and feed means operatively associated with said coiler member, of a coiler member control means comprising a control cam, a forming lever coacting with said cam, an actuating lever connected to said arm on said rockshaft and having an adjustable arm provided with an adjustable follower coacting with said forming lever, an actuating link connected to the said actuating lever below its pivot and having a follower supporting arm at its outer end, a spring tensioned pivoted support for the outer end of said link, a link actuating cam comprising coacting members adjustably associated for varying the cam, a cam disk disposed at the side of said cam members and adjustably associated therewith, said disk and cam members being provided with a series of holes permitting their being pinned in a plurality of relative positions, a cam member having a plurality of radial cam projections of varying width adjustably mounted on said cam disk so that it may be adjusted to present a selected cam projection in operative position projecting beyond the periphery of the disk, and cam followers adjustably mounted on said arm on said actuating link, one coacting with said first named link actuating cam and the other with said cam disk and the cam carried thereby. 3. In a coiling machine, the combination with a coiler member provided with a rockshaft having an arm thereon and feed means operatively associated with said coiler member, of a coiler mem- 40 ber control means comprising a control cam, a

forming lever coacting with said cam, an actuating lever connected to said arm on said rockshaft and having an adjustable arm provided with an adjustable follower coacting with said forming lever, an actuating link connected to the said actuating lever, a link actuating cam comprising coacting members adjustably associated for varying the cam, a camdisk disposed at the side of said cam members and adjustably associated therewith, said disk and cam members being provided with a series of holes permitting their being pinned in a plurality of relative positions, a cam member having a plurality of radial cam projections of varying width adjustably mounted on said cam disk so that it may be adjusted to present a selected cam projection in operative position projecting beyond the periphery of the disk,

and cam followers mounted on said actuating link, one coacting] with said first named link actuating cam .and the other with said cam diskand the cam carried thereby, and means for lockingv said actuating link with its cam followers in inoperative relation to said link actuating cams- 4. In a coilingmachine, the combination with a coiler member provided with a rockshaft having ing the cam, a cam disk'disposed atthe side of said cam members and adjustably associated therewith, said disk and cam members being provided with a series of holes permitting their being pinned in a plurality of relative positions, a cam member having a plurality of radial cam projections of varying width adjustably mounted on said.

cam disk, so that it may be adjusted to present a selected cam projection in operative position projecting beyond the periphery of the disk. and cam followers mounted on said actuating link, one coacting with said first named link actuating cam and the other with said cam disk and the cam carried thereby.

5. In a, coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated therewith,'of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever coacting with said cam, an actuating lever operatively associated with said coiler member, an actuating link operatively connected to said actuating lever, a spring tensioned pivoted support for the outer' end of said link, a cam comprising coacting members adjustably associated for varying the cam, a cam disk disposed in the side of said camand adjustably associated therewith, said disk and cam members being provided with a series of holes facilitating their being secured together in relative positions, a cam member having a plurality of cam projections of varying amplitude adjustably mounted on said cam disk so that it may be adjusted to present a selected cam projection in operative position projecting beyond the periphery of the disk, and cam followers mounted on said actuating link, one coacting with said first named link actuating cam and the other with said cam disk and the cam member carried thereby, and means for locking said actuating link with its cam followers in inoperative relation to said link actuating cams.

v 6. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated therewith, of a control means for said collar member comprising av control cam, a forming lever coacting with said in the side of said cam and adjustably associated vided with a series of holes facilitating their being secured together in relative positions, a cam member having a plurality of cam projections of varying amplitude .adjustably mounted on said cam disk so that it may be adjusted to present a jecting beyond the periphery of the disk, and cam followers mounted on said actuating link, one coacting with said first named link actuating-cam and the other with said cam, disk and, the cam member carried thereby. f

7. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated therewith, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever coacting with said cam, an actuating lever operatively associated with said coiler member, an actuating link operatively connected to said actuating lever, a cam comprising coacting members adiustably associated for varying the cam, a cam disk disposed in the side of said cam and adjustably associated therewith,

said disk and cam members being provided with a series of holes facilitating their being secured together in relative positions, a cam member having a plurality of cam projections of varying amplitude adjustably mounted on said cam disk so that it may be adjusted to present a selected cam projection in operative position projecting beyond the periphery of the disk, and cam followers adjustably mounted on said actuating link,

l'O one coacting with said first named link actuating cam and the other with said cam disk and the cam member carried thereby.

8. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated with said coiler member, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever coacting with said cam, an actuating lever operatively associated with said coiler member and provided with a follower coacting with said forming lever, a spring acting to actuate said link in one direction, a cam assembly for actuating the said link in opposition to said spring and comprising a plurality of cam members adjustably associated for'varying the timing and amplitude of the cams of said cam assembly, said link being provided with a plurality of adjustably mounted cam followers, the cam assembly having separate cams coacting with said followers, and

means for locking said actuating link in inoperative position with relation to said cam assembly.

9. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated. with said coiler member, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever coacting with said cam, an actuating lever operatively associated with said coiler member and provided with a follower coacting with said forming lever,-an actuating link connected to said actuating lever, a spring acting to actuate said link in one direction, and a cam assembly for actuating the said link in opposition to said spring and comprising a plurality of cam members adjustably associated for varying the timing and amplitude of the cams of said cam assembly, said link being provided with a plurality of adjustably,

mounted cam followers, the cam assembly having separate cams coacting with said followers.

10. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated with said coiler member, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever coacting with said cam, anactuating lever operatively associated with said coiler member and provided with a follower coacting with said forming lever, an actuating link connected to said actuating lever, a cam assembly for actuating the said link comprising a plurality of cam members adjustably associated for varying the timingand amplitude of the cams of said cam as sembly, said link being provided with a plurality of cam followers, the cam assembly having separate cams coacting with said followers, and

means for locking. said actuating link in inoper-- ative position with relation to said cam 18-!!! u o l 11. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated with said coiler member, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever acting with said cam, an actuating lever operatively associated with said coiler member and provided with a follower coacting with said forming lever, an actuating link connected to said actuating lever, and a cam assembly for actuating the said link comprising a plurality of can members adjustably associated for varying the timing and amplitude of the cams of said cm assembly, said link being provided with a plurality of cam followers, the cam assembly having separate cams coacting with said followers.

12. In a coiling machine, the combination with a. movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated therewith, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever operatively associated with said control cam and with said coiler member, and means operatively associated with said forming lever for accelerating the movement thereof during a portion only of its stroke, such means comprising a cam assembly comprising a plurality of cam members adjustably associated for varying the timing and amplitude of the accelerated movement of the actuating lever.

13. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated therewith, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever operatively associated with said control cam and with said coiler member, and means operatively associated with said forming lever for accelerating the movement thereof during a portion only of its stroke.

14. In a coiling machine, the combination with a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated therewith, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever operatively associated with said control cam and with said coiler member, and means independent of said control camfor varying the throw of said forming lever during a portion of its cycle of movement as actuated by said control cam, said means including a cam assembly comprising a plurality of ad justably associated cam members whereby the shape of a predetermined coil of the work may be varied.

15. In a coiling machine, the combination with i a movably supported coiler member and feed means operatively associated therewith, of a control means for said coiler member comprising a control cam, a forming lever operatively ascciated with said control cam and with said coiler member, and means independent of said control cam for varying the throw of said forming lever during a portion of its cycle of movement as actuated by said control cam.

HUGH LEAL. 

